By Obinna Uballa
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has announced a £5 billion ($6.8 billion) investment in artificial intelligence across the United Kingdom, a move timed with U.S. President Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain this week.
The two-year investment package will see the launch of a cutting-edge data centre in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, aimed at meeting surging demand for AI-powered platforms such as Google Cloud, Workspace, Search and Maps.
Google estimates the project could generate 8,250 jobs annually across U.K. businesses, offering a political and economic lift for the Labour government.
“This is a powerful vote of confidence in the U.K. economy and the strength of our partnership with the United States,” Finance Minister Rachel Reeves said on Tuesday.
Alphabet’s commitment also includes new funding for London-based DeepMind, led by Nobel Prize winner Demis Hassabis, which is pioneering next-generation AI breakthroughs, the company said on Tuesday.
Alphabet president and chief investment officer Ruth Porat said the company was doubling down on Britain’s AI potential.
“With today’s announcement, Google is deepening our roots in the U.K. and helping support Great Britain’s potential with AI to add £400 billion to the economy by 2030 while also enhancing critical social services,” Porat said.
To power its expansion sustainably, Google signed a deal with Shell to supply renewable energy for its U.K. operations. The agreement includes access to batteries and advanced electricity trading to bolster grid stability.
“Shell’s diverse portfolio of renewable power supply, access to batteries and electricity trading and optimisation expertise enables us to meet the evolving needs of world-leading companies like Google and support the growth of data centres,” said David Wells, Shell’s executive vice president.
Trump is expected to arrive in London on Today , with state ceremonies and high-level meetings beginning Wednesday. His visit is likely to coincide with announcements of U.S.-U.K. business deals.
